Tealium, a prominent player in the intelligent real-time data streaming landscape, has significantly deepened its commitment to the Middle East through an expanded investment focused on powering AI-driven data strategies. Central to this effort was its regional event held in Dubai, titled “AI Meets ROI: Customer Data Strategies to Accelerate Growth,” which convened government officials, enterprise executives, and digital innovators. The forum underscored the critical role of high-quality, real-time customer data as the linchpin to unlocking tangible business results from AI initiatives, especially as the Middle East accelerates its digital transformation journey.
The event featured insights from Ali Behnam, Tealium’s Co-Founder, and Guillaume Thfoin, Chief Data Officer at Schneider Electric, who offered practical advice on building robust, enterprise-wide AI programs. This discussion aligned with projections showing AI’s contribution to Middle Eastern economies surging from 20% to 34% by 2030—highlighting the urgency for organisations to convert AI experimentation into sustainable operational efficiency, growth, and personalised customer engagement.
“We are proud to invest in the UAE, not just by expanding our presence, but by enabling enterprises to thrive in the age of AI, responsibly and in full alignment with local data governance,” affirmed Behnam. He stressed that AI’s efficacy hinges on the quality of the data powering it, citing Tealium’s research which reveals that 81% of Customer Data Platform (CDP) users secure a competitive advantage through their AI projects by leveraging real-time, consented data foundations.
Tealium’s reputation as an industry leader is well-established, recognised as a Leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Customer Data Platforms for two consecutive years. The company’s platform stands out by integrating emerging standards such as MCP, an industry framework developed by Anthropic, further bolstering its AI credentials.
At the core of Tealium’s AI Innovation strategy is the capacity to tackle prevalent hurdles in AI adoption—ranging from data fragmentation to compliance risks—by preparing, transforming, and labelling customer data in real time, ensuring readiness and regulatory compliance before any AI model engagement. This is notably pertinent as 42% of companies within the UAE have already integrated AI into their business operations, intensifying pressure to yield demonstrable value from AI investments.
A key strategic pillar is Tealium’s partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), formalised through a multi-year global Strategic Collaboration Agreement. This alliance facilitates data residency on AWS’s UAE data centres, enabling customers to benefit from localised data storage, enhanced latency, and compliance with stringent regional data governance mandates. This collaboration aligns directly with the UAE’s AI 2031 strategy, positioning the country as a global AI hub committed to innovation and cutting-edge digital infrastructure. Robert Coyne, Tealium’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director for EMEA, emphasised that “as we expand our presence in the MEA region, we are committed to enabling enterprises to harness the power of AI-driven data strategies while maintaining the highest standards of data privacy and security.”
Operationally, Tealium’s platform enables businesses to embed AI models directly into customer engagement points, allowing instantaneous activation of insights and delivery of AI-generated recommendations across marketing, commerce, and service platforms at scale. Such seamless integration accelerates return on investment by simplifying data connectivity and activation, with 84% of Tealium users affirming that CDPs ease AI project implementation.
Since establishing its Middle Eastern operations in 2018, headquartered in Dubai and led by Sales Director Shadi Hatoum, Tealium has expanded robustly into key markets including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. The company remains focused on forging strategic partnerships and supporting both public and private sector digital advancements, aiming to solidify the region’s position in the evolving AI-driven economy.
With over 1,300 built-in integrations and trusted by more than 850 global enterprises, Tealium’s solutions encompass real-time customer data platforms, AI data streaming, tag management, and API hubs. Together, these capabilities empower organisations to accelerate performance, enhance customer experiences, and maintain compliance across international and local regulations—a critical requirement as AI usage proliferates.
In summary, Tealium’s expanded Middle East investment, accentuated by its strategic AWS collaboration and localised data capabilities, reinforces its commitment to enabling companies to fully leverage AI’s transformative potential. By addressing data quality, compliance, and real-time activation, Tealium is helping the region’s enterprises translate AI from concept to operational excellence and sustained growth.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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